7:00am Tuesday 16th April 2013
Changes to benefits that will affect older people have been highlighted by a seniors’ group.
Keighley and Bradford Pensioners’ Association has criticised some of the changes in its newsletter.
It details rises to the basic state pension of £2.70 a week for single pensioners and £4.30 for couples. But it points out the increase would have been higher if it had been linked to the Retail Price Index.
The newsletter also says age-related personal tax allowances had been frozen for those aged over 65.
It said: “This will result in 4.4 million existing tax-paying pensioners losing an average of £8 next year, while future pensioners will suffer a loss of around £197.”
The newsletter also outlines plans to bring the existing basic and second state pension together to create a single payment of around £144 a week.
“It represents little more than a repackaging of the pension system,” it states.
Download the newsletter at kbpa.weebly.com.
© Copyright 2001-2013 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/trade_directory/